This Holi, add color to someone’s world with Kiva!

Holi, also known as the festival of colors, is a Hindu holiday signaling the start of spring. Following tradition, Holi is the time to celebrate the good in life and bridge the social gap in our communities.

Holi celebrations occur all over the world, in places like Bali, where there is a predominant Hindu community. For Balinese families that can afford it, it’s a tremendous honor to build a formal place of worship. One such Kiva borrower, named Buana, was able to use the success of his Kiva loan to support his family and build a temple. But for Buana, it was a long journey to grow his jewelry handicrafts into a profitable business. Read the amazing story on Medium about how Buana and other Balinese artisans were able to transform their businesses and lives with the help of Kiva’s Field Partner, Novica.

Check out Milaap, a Field Partner that works with Indian microfinance institutions to help individuals increase productivity and meet basic needs, like updated sanitation.

Lend to Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil, or MUK, a microfinance institution based in Bali, Indonesia. MUK supports low-income households by providing capital to help improve their businesses in eco-friendly ways.

About the author

Kayla Grueneich

Kayla received her B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Puget Sound. She has volunteered with a wide variety of animals from cats at her local shelter, sea turtles in Costa Rica, and elephants at the Oakland Zoo. Kayla hopes to pursue a career that supports animal welfare issues through community empowerment and education. She is excited to join Kiva to learn about international development from a non-profit viewpoint.